Stringed-musical-instrument mute



Aug. 12, 1930. l. LEWIS STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUTE Filed Oct. 8,1928 wanes: 3.60 am Patented Aug. 12, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEISRAEL LEWIS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF FOB-TY PER GEN!TO MAX LEVIN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND STRINGED-MUSICAL-INSTBUMENTMUTE Application filed October 8, 1928. Serial. No. 311,183.

The invention aims to provide an exceptionally simple and inexpensive,yet an efficient, easily applied, easily adjusted and quickly removablemute for stringed musical instruments, which will effectively performits oflice without impairing the quality of the tones.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, description being supplementedby the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a violin and a mute attached thereto betweenthe bridge and the tail piece.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan View of a portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the mute appliedbetween the bridge and the neck.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation on line 4-4 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by lines 55of Figs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a banjo showing the mute applied between thebridge and the neck.

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 6,partly in elevation.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 7

The preferred form of construction has been illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and while such construction will be hereinspecifically explained, it is to be understood that within the scope ofthe invention as claimed, minor variations may be made. Moreover, I wishit understood that regardless of the form of instrument with which themute is used, it may be employed either between the bridge and the neckor between the bridge and the tail piece and at any de sired distancefrom said bridge, determined by the results to be obtained. Moreover,when the mute is constructed for use with bowoperated instruments suchas the violin, viol, etc., it will be longitudinally curved as shown forinstance in Fig. 4, whereas for use upon stringed instruments upon whichall of the strings are in a common plane, such as a banjo, ukelele,guitar, etc, the device will be of straight form as seen in Fig. 7. Withthe exception of this difference in longitudinal shape, both forms ofmutes herein disclosed are identical and hence one description willsuffice for both.

The numbers 9 and 10 on the drawing, designate two closely spaced armsfor disposition at opposite sides of the group of strings Sand. 11denotes resilient means connecting said arms at one end, said meansexerting a constant force to move the arms toward each other butpermitting spreading thereof when applying or removing the mute.Preferably, the arms 9-10 and their connecting means 11 are formed bybending a single length of resilient wire substantially upon itself, thetwo end portions constituting the arms 91O wh le the bend or bightportion forms the resilient connecting means 11.

Extending longitudinally of the arms 910 respectively, are two pads 1213for yielding contact with opposite sides of the strings S. Each of thesepads is preferably in the form of a resilient rubber tube and thesetubes snugly surround the arms 910 to be frictionally held upon them. Inmost instances, I prefer that the upper tube 12 shall be of lessdiameter than the other tube 13, but this is not absolutely essential.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the device is of exceptionallysimple and inexpensive construction, that it may be quickly and easilyslipped onto or from the strings of an instrument and that when it isbeing adjusted to obtain the desired muting effect, it may be merelyslid longitudinally of the strings and need not be taken off and againap lied repeatedly to obtain themost desirable positioning.

Attention is again invited to the fact that while the preferredconstruction has been shown and specifically described, variations maybe made.

I claim 1. A stringed musical instrument mute comprising two closelyspaced arms to extend transversely at opposite sides of the usual groupof strings, resilient means connecting said arms at one end for movingthem toward each other, and two resilient tubes snugly surrounding andextending longitudinally of said arms to grip the strings.

2. A stringed musical instrument mute comprising a single length ofresilient wire bent substantially upon itself to provide two closelyspaced resiliently connected arms to extend transversely at oppositesides of the the usual group of strings, and two resilient tubes snuglysurroundin and extending longitudinally of said arms to grip thestrings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ISRAEL LEWIS.

